Elevator-shaft doorlock



Z 7 I .m H l nm mfi m l l l l l l h Z L kl L I lira f, 6 II Aug. 10 1926.-'

Filed Feb. 5, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 10 1926. v M. B. MCLAUTHL'IN ELEVATOR sufifi'r DOORLOCK HAAA Patented Aug. 10, 1 926.

" UNITED STATES oFFIcE.

ARTIN B. MCLAUTH'LIN', or 'MALnEmlMAssAoiiusEr'rs.

ELEVATOR-snare: noonnocxi Application filed February 5', 71923. Serial No. 616,908.

This invention relates to door looks more particularly designed for uses on doors leading to the interiors of dumb waiter shafts and the like, and has for itschief ObJQCt tllG provision of a lock which per- ,mi-ts'the door to be openedr'eadily when the elevator car is'stationary opposite it so that i 1 l ,1 1

it may he loaded or unloaded through the door opening, but which prevents opening of the door at other times without the use vention appliedto swinging door.

Figure 2 a fragmentary horizontal section on line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the lock showing its manner of mounting on the door. v I

Figure l is a section on line 1+4: of Figure 3.

Figures 5, 6, 7, and S are views similar to Figures 1, Q, 3, and 1, respectively, but showing" the device as applied to a sliding door. t I

Figure 9 is a section er a modified form of lock taken along the lines 97-9 of Figures 10 and 11. i 1

Figures 10 and 11 are sectioiis on lines 1010' and 11-11, respectively, of Figure 9. r

Referring first to the Construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, 1 indicates a por-' tion of an elevator casing having a doorway 2- in one wall thereof which may be closed by a door 3 hinged thereto at 4, A portion of the elevator car is shown at 5 which is slidable within the shaft or casing 1. The lock forthe door is shown at A and has projecting therefrom 'a'rock shaft 6 accessible from the forward face of the door as by means of a knob 7. The rock shaft A i s, H a is gournaled in opposite Walls. of easing 8 within which the operative mechanism of the l'ock'is mounted 'and'has fixed thereon within the casing a cam 94 This cam adapted to bear against the intermediate portion 10 of a bar or lever 11. v This bar or lever 11 is loosely slidable on apin 12 projecting inwardly-from a side wall of the casing Sand is normally held againsta head 13 on the pin by means of a spring 14- which, as shown, surrounds the pin 12 and reacts between a portionot the side Vwallof the casing and the member 11. The bar 1=lc has alsofixed thereto at its opposite. end aspring15 which, as shown, is attached at one end to the bar 11 and at its other end to a lug 16 projecting from one wall of the casing. Both springs 14 and 15-, act in the same direction to urge the bar or lever 11 against the cam 9; The-spring 14;, however, is ofre'l'atively greater strength than the spring 15 so that if the bar is otherwise unrestrained, rocking motion imparted to the shaft 6 to bring; the high point of thecam against the bar 11, causes the spring 15 to yield, while the spring ll remains substantially u'nalie'ct'ed', by-Xvhich action the bar 11 is caused to turn about a fulcrum ad acentts lower end. If, however,

5 the upper end of the bar 11 adjacent the spring 15 is held against motion pressure of the cam 9 on the intermediate portion of the bar effects a compressi'on'of the spring 1 1 and causes a bodily motion of the lower end of the bar 11. It will thus be seen that this baracts as a lever which may be moved about one or the other of a pair ottulcra,

one of these fulcrum being its center of oscillation under normally unrestrained conditions and the other becoming active when the first'is held inactive. The cam 9 is normally held with its high point out of contact with th bar. by means 01" a spring 17 fixed to a lug 18 extending from the cam at one end, and at its other end attached to a portion of the casing. F or the purpose of preventing movement of the upper end 01" the bar 1], an arm or member. 20 is shown as pivoted at oneendin a slot-19 therein, its opposite end extending out through a slot 21 in the casing. This arm 20 is normally held to extend substantially perpendicularly to the member 11 lay-means of a spring 22 reacting. "Bet-ween a. lug 23 en the arm 20 and a lug 24 projecting from the bar 11. For cooperating with this arm 20 the elevator car 5 has a cam bar 25 fixed thereto, which when the elevator car is in position opposite the doorway extends, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, adjacent the end wall of the casing-8 in position to be contacted by the end of the arm 20 on a slight outward movement thereof. The ends of this bar 25 are preferably curved away from the casing 8 as shown at 26 and the arm 20 is mounted yieldably as above described in order that should the car he in motion when the cam 9 is actuated, the end of the arm will he engaged thereby and the arm turned from its normal position so as to permit the upper end of the bar 11 to move instead of compelling movement of the lower end. The lowerend of the bar 11 extends through a slot 30 in the bottom wall of the casing 8 and carries alatch ele ment 31 adapted to cooperate with a stationary latch element 32 fixed. to the inner wall of the elevator shaft. If new the elevator is in stationary position opposite the doorway and the knob 7 be turned, the cam 9 acts against the central portion of the bar 11, forcing the central portion of this bar away from the shaft 6, the spring 15 yielding, due to its comparative weakness with relation to the spring 1 1- until the arm contacts the member on the elevator car, while the engagement of the latch 31 with the latch 32 is substantially unaffected. As soon as the arm 20 is stopped by the member 25 further motion of the cam acts to move the lower end of the bar 11 against the tension of the spring 1e causing the latch 31 to move out of engagement with its cooperating member 32. When this has been effected the door may be opened by pulling. outwardly on the knob 7. In case the elevator car is not in position opposite the opening, or is in motion when the arm, 20 strikes the member 25, the entire movement of the cam 9 is expended in moving the upper end of the bar 11 against the action of the spring 15 so that the latch member 3]. fails to become disengaged from the memocr 32, even at the extreme limit of action of the cam 9. Hence when the car not inposition or is not stationary the door is normally not unlocked by turning the knob 7 but is retained in fully closed position.

It is sometimes desirable. however, to in spect the interior of the elevator shaft and for this purpose the door should be capable of being opened when the elevator car is not opposite thereto. This, however, should only be done by one authorized to make such inspection and normally not by the operator of the elevator. For this purpose a key may be employed to be in the possession of the person authorized to inspect the interior of the shaft, this key being so related to the locking mechanism that when inserted there in, turning of the knob 7 acts to unlock the door even though the elevator car is not in stationary position opposite the door opening. This may be done inthe present mechanism by forming an opening for the key through the door and through one or both walls of the casing S in position so that when the key is inserted, it'prevents iovement of the; upper end of the bar 11. For this purpose the key shown in section at 35 may be inserted adjacent the'upper end 36 of the bar 11 on the same side thereof when it is in normally locked position as the arm 20. This key acts ten as a stop to prevent bodily movement of the upper end of the bar so that turning of the cam 9 acts to move the latch member 31 out of cooperative relation to its mating member 32 so that the door may be opened. irrespective'of the position of the elevator car.

Referring now to Figuresb'to S-inclusive, the lock is shown as lightly modified for application to a sliding door. Referring to these figures the bar 11 is mounted in the same manner as the bar 11 of the first form described within the casing 8 and carries its upper end a yieldable pivoted arm 20 normally held projected through a slot 21 =1 of the casing by means of a spring 22, the arm 11 being held against the earn 9 by means of a' relatively weak spring 15 and a relatively strong spring 14. the bar sliding loosely along the pin 12. The movable latch member carried by the bar 11 is shown at 31 and cooperates with a fixed latch nember 32. In place of the knob 7 and the rock shaft 6 a lever 7' may be employed which, if desired, may rest in a depressed portion 7 in the outer face of the door, this portion serving as a. hand grip in order that the door may he slid upwardly along suitable wavs in the elevator shaft casing. A key slot for a key which may prevent bodily movement of the upper end of the arm 11 may be employed positioned in. the sum-u manner as indicated in Figures 1 and With this form of mechanism the latch member 31 is provided with a hook engaging under the latch member 32 so that in normal locking position the door 3 may not be raised. When the elevator car is in. stationary position, however, by raising the lever 7, the cam 9 is rocked to move the bar 11 and as its upper end is prevented from free movement by the arm 20 engaging the member 25 on the elevator car, the latch 31 is moved out from beneath the fixed latch member 32 whereupon continued upward pull on the lever 7 acts to raise the door 3. Insertion of the key 35 acts in the manner before described to prevent bodily movement of the upper end of the arm 11 so that by raising the lever 7 the llO '- struction is shown in Figures 9 to 11. Re-

ferring to these figures, the lock casing is indi ated at 50 and projectable therefrom to engage a suitable socket in the easing is a latch bolt 51; As shown this latch bolt slides between upper and lower guides and '53 carried by the casing 50 and its lower inner end is provided with a recess in which extends theupper end of a lever unis lever is pivoted on a pin .56 projecting iiward-ly from one side wall of the casing 50 and its lower end is for ed as at 57 to engage over a pin- 58 projecting from the lower end of a floating bar 59. This 59 corresponds in function to the bars 11 and 11 of the forms before described, rid-ingloosely at its lower end on a pin 60 and having its centralportion 61 pressed against the face of a cam '62 carried "by a rock shaft 63 by means of an upper comparatively weak spring 64land a lower comparatively strong spring 65. The cam 62 is normally held rocked to" a position permitting the bar 59 to be moved to its inner limit of motion by the springs 6%"and 65, as by meansof a spring 66. Pi'voted adjacent the upper end of the bar 59 in a slot 69 therein is an arm 70 projecting through a slot 71 the casing and normally held in substantially perpendicular position relativeto the bar 59 by the spring 72. The

casing also is provided with keyhole slots,--

preferably in opposite faces,'for the reception of a key, shown in section at 75 in Figure 11, so positioned as to prevent bodily movement of the upper end of the bar 59 by the action of the cam 62. lVith this construction when the upper end of the bar 59 is held from movement, either by v the stationary presence of the member '25 of the elevator car, as above described in connection with other forms of the invention, or by means of the presence'of the key 75, rocking of the shaft 63 to cause the cam 62 to move the bar 59 effects bodily mo tion of the lower end thereof by which the lever 55 is. rocked to retract the latch bolt 51. If the upper end of the bar 59 is free to move, however, as when no key is in position and .the elevator car is out ofcoope'rative reh ion to the door' openingv or is moving, rocking of the shaft 63 merely effects a bodily movement of the bar 59 without in anyway effecting the lever 55 and hence without retracting the latch bolt.

Having thus described certain embodiments of this inven'ti-on, it will be evident skilled in the art that mat-1y changesto said doorway.

and modifications might be made therein 'b' 'it liout c lep'arting from its spirit or scope as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. (l -he combination with ashaft, a car therein, a doorway for said shaft through which access may be had to said car, and a door for closing saic doorway, of a latch for holding said door closed, said latch including member movable towardthe interior 7 of said shaft to contact with the car therein only when said car 1S opposlte to said doorway, and means actuable to release said latch only when said member isin such contacted position, said member being movable by movement of said car after such contact in a manner torender inoperative said releasing means. i

2. in combination with a shaft, a car therein, and a doorway for said shaft through which access may be had to said car, of a door for closing said doorway, a latch for holding said door closed, mean's normally actuable to releasesaid latch to permit the deer to be opened only when s'a-i'dcar is in cooperative relation to said doorway, and means operatively associable withsaid latch acting to permit said latch to be released when said car is out of cooperative relation A device of the class described, comprising cooperating latch members, means actuable under certain conditions only to release said latch members, and means associable with said members permitting said means to be actuated torelease'said members under other conditions.

l. In combination with a shaft, a car in said shaft, and a'door for closing a doorway in said shaft through which access may be had to said car when'it is positioned opposite to said doorway, of cooperating latch mem'bcrsion said door and car, a rockable member associated with said latch members and projecta'ble into said shaft to contact with said car only when said car is opposite to said doorway, means ac'tuable to so'proj'ec't said rockable member and 'actuable only when the extent of such projection is limited by its contact with said car to release said latch member, said i'ockable member being rocked by movement of said car after such contact to render said act-uable means inoperative to release said latch members.

5. In combination with ashaft, a car therein, and a door for closing a doorway in said shaft through which access may be had to said car when opposite said door- -way, of a lock-for said door comprising cooperative latch members on said door and shaft, one of said members being; movable toward and from the other of said members, a movable element operatively associated with said movable latch member, means for moying said element, and means for so sup all) porting said element that it is moved by said moving means in a manner inoperative to move said movable latch member when the car is out of cooperative relation to said doorway and in a manner to release said latch. members when said car is in cooperative relation to said doorway.

6.111 combination with shaft, a car therein, and a door for closing a door ay in said shaft through which access may be had to said car when opposite said doorway, of a lock for said door :omprising cooperative latch members on said door and shaft, one of said members being movable toward and from the other of said members, a movable element opcrat y associated with said movable latch memb r, means for moving said element, means for so suppoit ng said element that it is moved by said movn means in a manner inoperative to move said movable latch member when the car is out of cooperative relation to said doorway and in a manner to release said latch members when said car is in cooperative relation to said doorway, and means associable with said element causing it to be moved by sad moving means to release said latch members when said car is out of cooperative relation to said doorway.

7. In combination with a shaft, a car therein, and a door for closing a doorway in said shaft through which access may be had to said car when positioned opposite to said doorway, of an actuating element, means for locking said door closed, a member projectable into said shaft on actuation of said element and contacting with said only when said car is positioned opposite to said doorway and limiting the projection of said member, further actuation of said element then acting to release said lock, said member being movable out of said limiting position by movement of said car after such contact to render said actuating element ineffective to release said lock while said car is in motion. 8.1n combination with a shaft, a car therein, and a door for closing a doorway in said shaft through which access may be had to said car when positioned opposite said doorway, of a rock shaft carried by said door, means for locking the door closed, means actuable by rocking said shaft for releasing said locking means only when said car is in cooperative relation to said doorway, and means associable with said locking means by which it may be released by the rocking of said shaft when the car is out of coopeative relation to said doorway.

9. in combination with a shaft, a car therein, and a door for closing a doorway in said shaft through which access may be had to said car when positioned opposite said doorway, of a bodily movable bar, means engageable between the ends of said bar for moving the same, spring means ad jacent opposite ends of said bar for holding the same against said moving means, one of said spring means being of less strength than the other, a door latch member operatively connected to said bar adjacent the stronger spring means and movable to doorreleased position on the bodily movement of the corresponding end of said bar, and means carried by the ear acting to hold the 7 other end of the bar when the elevator is in cooperative relation to said doorway, whereby actuation of said moving means effects release of said latch member, actuation of said moving means at other times acting to move the other end of said bar against the action of the weaker spring means without effecting the release of said latch member.

10. A lock comprising a bar fulcrumed at, spaced points, means engageable with said bar for moving it about either of said fulcra, yielding means for said bar normally constraining it to move about one of said fulcra on the actuation of said movable means but permitting it to move about the other fulcrumsvhen preventedfrom moving about said one fulcrum, a latch member actuable only on the movement of said bar about said other fulcrum, and means assoeiable with said lock for preventing the movement of said bar about said one fulcrum.

ll. In combination with a shaft, a car therein, and adoor for closing a doorway in said shaft through which access may be1 .100 had to said car when positioned opposite said doorway, of a bar fulcrumed at spaced points, means engageable with said bar for moving it about ei her of said fulcra, yielding means for said bar normally constrain ing it to move about one of said fulcra on the actuation of said movable means but permitting it to move about the other fulcrum when prevented from moving about said one fulcrum, a latch mom--1 0 ber actuable only on the movement of said bar about said other fulcrum, means for preventing movement of said bar about said one fulcrum when said car is in cooperative relation tosaid doorway, and other means associable with said lock for preventing the movement of said bar about said one fulcrum.

12. A device of the class described comprising a casing attachable to a door, ashaft 'journaled in said casing and accessible from without said door, a cam on said shaft with in said casing, a bar movably supported in said casing, a con'iparatively weak sprin engaging one end of said bar, a comparativelv strong spring engaging the other end of said bar, both springs urging an intermediate portion of said bar against said cam, amember projectable without said casing can ried by said one end of saidbar and enjoi.

- in said casing,..a bar movably s @pport i n .f S

gageable to prevent bodily movement there? of by the tnrningof said shaft, and a latch bolt projectable from said casing and operatively relatedto said other end of said ban,

in said casing, a con aratively weali. engaq one. er dof said bar accnnpa ly strongsp engaging,theother end said bar, both springs ur ing an inter:

=mediate portion of said bar against said ram, a member projectable without said ing carried by, said one endof said bar and to prevent bodily movement the turning of said shaft, and a latch bolt projectable from said casing and operatively related to said other end of said bar, said casing having'a keyhole through which a key may be inser d froinoutsidc the door in position to prevent bodily e ment of said end of said bar. j

14, In combination with a shaft, a car in said shaft, and a door for closing a door way in said shaft through which access-inn be had to said car when positioned opposite said doorway, of a lock for said door comprising a casing, bar movable in said casing, means engaging said bar intermediate its ends for moving said bar, a comp-aratlicreof by I tively weal; spring for engaging one end'of said bar, a comparatively strong spring ongaging the other end of said bar, both Springs urging said bar against said moving means, a member yieldingly carried by said one end ofsaid bar projecting from said wasing into proximity to a part of said car when said car is in cooperative relation to said doorway is "ionary in such position and movable out o operative relation to said bar by movement of said car, and a door lock member actuated by a bodily movement of the other end of said lever, whereby said lock memher is normally actn'able by actuation of said bar-moving means only when said car is stationary in said position. i

15. In combination with a shaft, a car insaid shaft and a door, for closing a doorway in said shaft through which access may be had to said car when positioned opposite said doorway of a lock for said door comprising a casing, a bar movable in said cas ing, means engaging said bar intermediate its ends for moving said bar, a comparatively weak spring engaging one end of said bar, a comparatively strong springengaging the other end of said bar, both springs urging said bar against said moving means, a member yieldingly carried by said one end of said bar projecting from said easing into proximity to a part of said car when said to prevent bodily movement of said one end of said bar when said car car is in cooperative relation tosaid doors way to vprevent bodily movement of said one end ofsaid bariwhen said: can isstationary in such "position and movable out of opera-.. tive position by movement of said car, and a door lock member actuated by a'bodily movement of the other end of said lever, whereby said lock member is normally actne able by actuation of said baranoving means only when said caris' stationary-in said. position, said-casing having a key slot. tnere-v ,in through which a key may bGlDSQliBCl in position to prevent bodily movement of said one:.endi0f said bar, whereby whensaid hey: ctuablepton unloclr said door. irrespective of the posr is inserted said lock memberiis tion or motion of said car. v

16. A device of the class descrlbed comprising a casing, 'a rock shaft ournaled transversely of said casing, a cam on said rock shaft within said casing, a pin projecting from one side of said casing, a bar loosely slidable on said pin, a comparatively weak spring engaging one end of said bar,

a comparatively strong spring engaging the other end of said bar, both springs urging said bar along said pin with its intermediate portion into contact with said cam, a member carried by said one end of said bar and projecting from said casing where it may be engaged to prevent bodily movement of saidone end on the turning of said rock shaft whereby the other end of said bar is noved thereby, a latch bolt slidably carried by said casing, a lever having one end engageable with said bolt for projecting and retracting the same, and means carried by the other end ofsaid bar engaging the opposite end of said lever, whereby said bolt is projected by the movement ofsaid bar against the action of said springs When said member is held, and whereby said member is projected without projecting said bolt when said member is not held.

17. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a rock shaft journaled transverselyof said casing, a cam on said rock shaft Within said casing, a pin projecting from one side of said casing, a bar loosely slidable on said pin, a comparatively Weak spring engaging one end of said bar, a comparatively strong spring engaging the other end of said bar, both springs urging said bar along said pin with its intermediate portion into contact with said cam, a member carried by said one end of said bar and projecting from said casing where it may be engaged to. prevent bodily movement of said one end on the turning of said rock shaft whereby the other end of said bar is moved thereby, a latch bolt slidably carried by said casing, a lever having one end engageable with said bolt for projecting and retracting the same, and means carried by the other end of sald bar engagmg the opposite end of said lever, whereby said bolt is projected by the movement of said bar against the action of said springs when said member is held, and whereby said member is projected without projecting said bolt when said member is not held, said casing having key slots therein through which akey may be inserted in the path of movement of said one end of said bar to prevent movement thereoii whereby when said key is in position actuation of said cam actuates said bolt.

18. In combination with a shaft, a car in said shaft, a door for closing a doorway in said shai't through which access may be had to said car when positioned opposite thereto, a lock for said door, a member, and an element movable to projecting said member into the path of movement of said car when said car is out of position opposite said doorway and to unlock said lock when said member is prevented from projecting by contact with said car when in stationary position opposite said doorway, said member 7 being moved to a non-projected position by movement of said oar whlle contacted therewith, thereby being inoperative to cause the unlocking of said look by movement of said element.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

MARTIN B. MOLAUTHLIN. 

